Four professionals want to reinvent networking in Sarnia.
Registered social service worker Christy Primmer, Magic realtor Chad Kaplin, financial consultant Tiffany Branton and independent broker Mike Duerden, have launched “Las Friday,” a social event held on the last Friday of every month.
“It’s an evening to meet other people and support local business,” said Kaplin. “We’re having a lot of fun with it.”
The first Las Friday was held Feb. 28 at 142 Lochiel St., which has been converted to downtown residential lofts. About 200 people attended, each receiving a flash mob card.
The cards alert each attendee to the date and time when one or more businesses will be “flash mobbed” in coming days, explained Primmer.
Personal Touch Eatery & Catering was a flash mob location on March 6 and sold out its lunch special.
“It was a huge success,” said Kaplin. “It worked really well.”
He came up with the name Las Friday as a play on the uber successful First Friday cultural events, as well as a new Hollywood movie called Last Vegas.
“Las Friday is evolving but already we can promise something surprising at every event,” said Kaplin.
“We think it will get people to stay in Sarnia on the last Friday of the month. We want to keep people local,” added Duerden. Las Friday is held at rotating locations starting at 5 p.m.
For details on the next event, check out Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Las-Friday/1415228778722501
THREE CORPORATE WINS
Team Esso won the People’s Choice Award at the Inn of the Good Shepherd’s 3rd annual CANstruction competition hosted by Lambton Mall.
The team created characters out of cans from the movie hit “Despicable Me” and called their structure “Hunger is Despicable.”
The public voted with cash and awarded Esso with $5,485 in donations for the Inn.
NOVA’s team placed second and SNC Lavalin was third.
In three years, CANstruction has raised over 100,000 pounds of food and $30,000 for the Inn. Congrats on a job well done.
HIRING THE BEST
A free luncheon is offered March 31 to hear local consultant Helen Lomax discuss diversifying the workplace and impacting the bottom line.
Lomax owns “Pathways & Transitions,” a business that supports companies through employee development and new strategies in the workplace.
To register, contact Julie Allen by March 27 at the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Corporation (519-332-0000 ext. 123). The luncheon runs 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Lambton College Residence & Event Centre on London Road.
CHAMBER NEWS
The monthly Business After 5 networking event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19. Members and non-members are invited to BrownStones restaurant at Wellington and Finch from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Chamber’s annual gala to hand out its Outstanding Business Awards takes place this Friday, March 21 at the Imperial Theatre. Watch for the winners to be featured in this space.
The Business Journal features all things interesting about the local business community. Whether it’s upcoming events, community involvement or new investment, email Cathy Dobson at [email protected] or call her at 226-932-0985.